New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-12
VAS SPROULE INNOCENT
A ABELATED WITNESS swEARs THAT HE WAS
PROVING AN AIIBI FOR THE DEAD MAN-sU1T FOR
$4,000 AGAINST BRITISH COLUMBIA

PROVING AN AIIBI FOR THE DEAD MAN-sUIr FOR
$4,000 AGAINST BRITISH COLUMBIA
OTTAWA, Jan. IL pecfaD.-Rolert Evan 6prouie
was hanged In Victoria, British Columbia, for the
alleged murder OF Thomas Keatinge in KOOtonay, b.
C.. on Juno l. 1885 Two rcprieves were granted inc
condemned man by tho Government. Sproule WAS
hangei by order Of the Minister Of Justice. who re-
fused to Interfere although urged so to do by inc
Mayor and some 500 residents OF Victoria, as "on
as by tho Secretary Of State OF the United states anu
others who wero acquainted with tho facts. sprou'o
was an American citizen. a native Of Weeks Mh's
Maine. On the trial no endeavored to establish an
alib but owing 10 the absence Of his witnesses Ill
Oregon and icing unable to procure their ATTENDANCE
he partly failed After the trial the chief witness
for the prosecution, ono Charles Wolfe, made an AM
davt in due form that the evidence given by hm ho
tho trial wa false, and the American consul at
Victoria reported to the Lieutenant Governor OF Brit
sh Columbia that after Investigation no believed the
prisoner to be innocent. A stay OF execution was
ashei by Secretary Bayard In orcr that evidence
might he taken by the prisoners counsel going 10
show that 1t impossible for him to have been
In a position 10 commit the crime. This application
tho Government refused and developments go TO sho"
that the udic al murder Of an innocent man was com
mitted In tho HANGING Of Sprouc. go
Tho witness who wanted TO establish the alihi
at tho mo OF tho hearing was Henry Bcatty' u
miner Despite the efforts Of counsel he could not DO
found. He traced TO Sand Point. Idaho Territory
and from there to Portland Oregon. whcrc all trac.
ii
he turned in SIN Francisco. and until then kno"
absolutely nothing OF the murer OF keatinge or inc
arrcs' and e'ecution OF Sproule. He hcarl OF the
hanging by accident and mon hccomng familiar wiz
the story Of the murder recognized that he would nave
lei le 10 provo the dead mans innocence hs
went before judge of competent Jurisdiction ana
made an affidavit to the effect that he was WIN
Sprouo on the day OF the murder at place bf.cch
miles from the OF the crime. An applcauon
was madc by the prisoners counsel for ruo hiSi
before Mr. Justice Henry. Of the Supreme Court nero'
inc cara NJ lea lis IT..
native for tho discharge Of the condemned man'
The writ wa. granted but disohcycd by the sheriff.
and an application was then malc for the unconhi
tional discharge OF tho prisoner which was erinch
This order paid attention to and Sprouc was
hangcd Tho papers showing his innocence beyond
question have been filed 20 day with tho Secretary o'
State here. and a brother OF the dead man. frihh u
srouc OF Weeks Mills Maine, has Instructed conhei
hero TO begin a suit against tho Province OF BRUSH
tolumba ior $4,000 damages In consequence OF tno
wrongful execution OF hi brother against the absou'o
order OF the Suprcmc Court. Among tho counsei TO
tained arc a + Mcintyre. ot TINS ciV' ihco'oa
pavcs OF Victoria, B. G., and Samuel b. f"sc' vi
Woolside, y. II.